Ashley Rosales, Registered Dietitian
Ashley Rosales
About me:
Ashley Rosales, registered dietitian, received her B.S. in Clinical Nutrition from UC Davis and completed the dietetic internship program at Napa State Hospital. She has a professional background in nutrition for the elderly and has worked in both the clinical and community setting. However, she has found her true calling working in the field of nutrition education where she can empower others to make the best food and lifestyle decisions for their own optimal health and wellness.
Ashley’s fondest childhood memories took place in the kitchen helping her mom and grandmother cook, or around the dinner table sharing laughs with family and friends. As a wife and new mom she loves keeping the family mealtime tradition alive by preparing delicious and nutritious meals at home and she is inspired to help others do the same. She strongly believes that no matter what challenges families are faced with, such as limited time, lack of skills or even economic resources, they can find unique ways to share in a home cooked meal and reap all of the wonderful benefits of family meal time.
Her favorite quote: “We are indeed more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us be much more than what we are.”
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Before my son was born I had dreams of raising a child who preferred chicken fajitas to chicken nuggets, mainly because I personally love exotic and flavorful foods so much.
I knew I would have my work cut out for me since my husband prefers his food on the “boring” side of things. If my child was going to love unique flavors, it was going to be my job to make it happen.
Once I became pregnant I vowed to not fall into the traditional baby food rut, like serving jars of bland pureed peas or apricots...boring! Of course, as a dietitian I knew I had to adhere to the rules of safety, like introducing foods slowly, avoiding some of the common allergens, etc.
But the rest was up to my culinary imagination. This was my chance to help my baby develop a diverse palate that could last a lifetime.
In that first year I delved into some fun and unusual baby food recipes, such as curried lentils and chicken noodle soup with squash and thyme. I delighted watching my son light up when he tasted something he liked, and sulked when he spat something out that he didn’t enjoy.
Those 6 months were filled with many fun experiments, unusual creations and lasting memories.
But, by the time he was one year old, I realized I couldn’t continue to make his “special” food forever. That chapter had come to a close and it was time to embark on eating the same meal together as a family.
My son is 18 months now and I am pleased to say his favorite food is guacamole. I also must confess that he absolutely loves chicken nuggets. I am okay with that less adventurous preference because although it’s important for me to introduce him to a variety of nutrient-rich and tasty foods, my main job is to establish a positive mealtime experience, and let him explore the world of food in his own way.
I still make it a priority to expose him to some unique foods at dinner (such as Thai shrimp curry), but I also make sure I serve the “go to” staples (like brown rice, sliced fruit and a sippy cup of milk) so that he doesn't feel pressured to eat something he doesn't recognize.
My son may be a typical toddler when it comes to his eating habits, but I know I have paved the way for a future of adventurous and nutritious eating by giving him the chance to explore new foods in a pleasant and positive environment!
Ashley Rosales, Registered Dietitian